Laker Nation ‘Free Agency Round-Up’

July 11, 2014

Jeremy Lin: The Lakers/Rockets agreed to a trade that sends Lin to the purple and gold along with a 2015 first round pick. The Lakers send no salary back to the Rockets as Houston prepares to offer Chris Bosh a max contract.

Pau Gasol: The Lakers are open to a S&T deal if Gasol decides to pursue another career opportunity elsewhere (via Mark Medina – LA Daily News)

Kent Bazemore: Lakers called Kent Bazemore again on Wednesday to reiterate that the team would like to re-sign him (via Michael Scotto – Sheridan Hoops)

July 9, 2014

Kobe Bryant: While not a free agent, Kobe at his basketball camp in Santa Barbara spoke to the media before it got started. Couple things to note, endorsed Byron Scott as the next head coach of the Lakers and mentioned that the Buss family has a solid plan they want “to put a contender on the floor next year… “they’re going for it.” Also said there is a plan B in place if Melo does not sign with the Lakers.

Carmelo Anthony: Barring a ‘last minute change of heart’, Anthony will reportedly re-sign with the Knicks and will announce his decision on Thursday, according to a source close to the forward. Other sources, including his agent Leon Rose, all denied that a decision was made (via Frank Isola – NY Daily News)

Isaiah Thomas: “I’m just waiting to see how it goes and waiting for Carmelo to decide. His decision just opens it up for me.” (via Eli Friedman – ThunderousIntentions/OKC Blog)

July 7, 2014

LeBron James: It is said that LeBron’s decision will come down to the Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavaliers (via Adrian Wojnarowski – Yahoo! Sports)

Pau Gasol: The Thunder, once considered a front-runner, feel like Gasol is now a long shot. The center met with OKC coach Scott Brooks on Monday. The Lakers, Spurs, and Bulls are all interested. It is reported that Gasol has concerns about leaving a ‘culturally diverse’ city like Los Angeles and asked Brooks about the quality of life in Oklahoma City (via Dave McMenamin – ESPN)

July 6, 2014

Image: Andrew D. Bernstein | Getty Images

Carmelo Anthony: There is a “rising sense around the league” that Melo will choose between the Lakers and the Knicks (via Marc Stein – ESPN) UPDATE: “After contemplating his options this weekend, free agent Carmelo Anthony’s decision isn’t expected to linger late into the week, a source said” (via Marc Spears – Yahoo! Sports)

Jordan Farmar: The point guard agreed to a 2yr/$4.2M deal with the Clippers (via Brad Turner – LA Times)

Isaiah Thomas: The Lakers are a “real possibility for Thomas. While the Heat are also pursuing the point guard, the Lakers have the money to get a deal done. As with everything else, nothing will happen until decisions from Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James are made (via Jared Zwerling – Bleacher Report/NBA TV)

July 5, 2014

Image: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke

LeBron James: The Lakers met with LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul on Friday, and the four-time MVP is giving similar consideration to what the Lakers have to offer, according to sources. (via Ramona Shelburne / Chris Broussard)

Carmelo Anthony: The one stumbling block is that Anthony is holding out hope that good friend LeBron James can find the two a place where the money is good and they can run together. (via NY Daily News)
The Lakers’ pitch — of teaming Anthony with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and prized rookie Julius Randle on a team with no long-term salary obligations — made what one source described as a “strong impression” on Anthony. (via Ramona Shelburne / Chris Broussard)
The Lakers made a MAJOR impact on Melo this week. It is now a legit three-way battle between Los Angeles, Chicago and New York to land him. As one source in process says of Lakers bid, “They can promise max money (4 years, $97M) without any roster moves needing to be made.” (via Bill Simmons / Adrian Wojnarowski)

Pau Gasol: Gasol has emerged as a key selling point for the Lakers. While the Spaniard has been listening to pitches from championship contenders who lack much financial flexibility, such as Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Miami and Chicago, sources believe he would quickly re-sign with the Lakers if they are able to land Anthony or James. (via Ramona Shelburne / Chris Broussard)

July 4, 2014

July 3, 2014

LeBron James: GM Mitch Kupchak is on a plane to Cleveland to meet with Rich Paul, agent for James. They will reportedly meet Friday. (via Ramona Shelburne – ESPN) MORE: Lakers said they didn’t have meeting set up with LeBron James’ agent but Kupchak + Lakers biz VP Tim Harris are in CLE. Kupchak and Harris flew to CLE on a private jet immediately after meeting with Carmelo in Los Angeles this afternoon. (via Mike Bresnahan – LA Times)

Carmelo Anthony: The Lakers are scheduled to meet with Melo this afternoon and it is reported that Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher have flown into Los Angeles to meet with the forward later this evening. Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports that Laker legend James Worthy will be involved in the meeting. UPDATE: Lakers have offered a 4-yr/$97M deal to Melo (the maximum salary)

Pau Gasol: Carmelo Anthony reportedly wants to sell Gasol on playing in New York together. The center continues to get interest from teams and could be a priority for teams that miss out on Melo and LeBron.

Chris Kaman: The center signed a 2yr/$10M deal with the Portland Trailblazers

Jordan Farmar: Clippers are interested in the point guard and it could be a fit after Darren Collison left to sign a deal with the Sacramento Kings.

Isaiah Thomas: The Sacramento Kings signed Darren Collison to a 3-yr/$16M deal which could mean the end for Thomas in Sacramento. The Lakers have expressed interest in the point guard. UPDATE: Thomas’ preferred destinations in order are: Lakers, Heat, and Pistons.

July 2, 2014

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Pau Gasol: The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as serious suitors for the center. OKC’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook spoke directly to Gasol in LA today and the Thunder are considered a “frontrunner” (via Ramona Shelburne – ESPN)

Greg Monroe: If the Lakers are unable to re-sign Pau Gasol, it has Monroe on its list of potential replacements. Signing the center could be tough since he is a restricted free agent (via Brian Windhorst on SportsCenter)

Kyle Lowry: The Lakers are among the bidders for the point guard who is mulling over an offer to stay with the Toronto Raptors (via Brian Windhorst – ESPN)UPDATE: Lowry has agreed to a 4yr/$48 million deal to stay with the Toronto Raptors (via Adrian Wojnarowski – Yahoo! Sports)

Carmelo Anthony: UPDATE (2:30 pm) – The Lakers are ‘laser-focused’ on its Thursday meeting with Melo. They’re making other calls, but all other business is conditional on that(via Ramona Shelburne – ESPN)

Lance Stephenson: The Lakers reached out to Stephenson’s agent to express interest in the guard. The Pacers offered Stephenson 5-yrs/$44M but the offer was not accepted (via Chris Broussard – ESPN)

July 1, 2014

Kyle Lowry: The Lakers are among the bidders for the point guard who is mulling over an offer to stay with the Toronto Raptors (via Brian Windhorst – ESPN)

Josh McRoberts: The Lakers have shown interest in McRoberts who played for the team during the 2011-2012 season (via Jeff Goodman – ESPN)

Jodie Meeks: The Lakers reached out to Meeks to show its interest in bringing the guard back (via Mark Medina – LA Daily News)UPDATE: Meeks and the Detroit Pistons have agreed to a 3yr/$19 million deal (via Adrian Wojnarowski – Yahoo! Sports)

Johnny is the lead writer and a senior editor for LakerNation.com. He currently attends Cal State University, Fullerton where he is working to earn his print journalism degree and covers sports for the Daily Titan. At the moment, he works for OCVarsity.com (OC Register) and in the past was a freelancer for the Whittier Daily News.

sena

oo,c’mon bros let’s get both of’em and waive nash to add role players.if i were lebron or melo i wolud go to nowhere but LA!coz LA is best franchise in the history of sports.in the spanish football league best team is real madrid yes they had most titles and so on so everybody wants to play in madrid we are like that we are the best of bests in NBA

james

I think the Lakers are a lot better than they showed last year. A coach makes a bunch of difference. We need one who can see what the players strong spots and use them in the best way. Lakers didn’t have that last year. Jordan is the greatest, but it was the role players who played huge roles in his titles.

scottastrophik

I thought they were going after Kyle Lowry!?!?

Thomas Klein

We called and reached out for a possible meeting, looks more and more like he will resign though

Max Prime

I guess no interest in Michael Beasley huh???

Laker Illuminati

What about Gordon Heyward

Tyler Katt

It’s going to be hilarious listening to Kobe next season, nobody GOOD will be coming here, as far as Pau goes, after what this team put him through with trade rumors the last few years, I’d either be laughing or demand a no trade clause from Mitch (I built the worst team in Laker history) Kupchak

KobeAholic

My biggest fear and what I have nightmares about is the Lakers not being able to sign any good free agents and going into next season worst than last year…

next year cap should be around 66.5/81.0 thats what i read if its true this could happen i think the cap this year is 63.2/77.0 unless thats next year and the other is the following but it still works we can spend some luxury tax to get us back in contention

1 Jerome jordan(7 footer) better make this team. 2. Randle has to play major mintues 3. for the price of getting Melo. We could have put together a entire decent team. Mitch and Jim are failing us, and I have no confidence in the both of them and their free agent strategy this year. No one wants to come to LA like they use to. It’s going to take some time to turn this ship around. You can’t keep selling the past history to the future players. We are no a historical museum . We are and should be a force or movement that should command respect. We should loved by many and hated by our enemies.

wardrobe99

i agree and Jarome Jorden does look good i think alot of the players we have in the d leauge we should be able to use marshall,kane,ckarkson,and jordan all look promising

Max Prime

Steve Nash for Lakers head coach!

stucktrader

Would be an awesome idea… that would allow LBJ/MELO share $38-39 Mil… with the Lakers using the MLE on Pau…

bring on board the a few UDFA, and Ray Allen following LBJ…

stucktrader

sign LBJ and Melo to 2 years…

then give them the max… after they get the rings…
They saw how the Lakers took care of Kobe… it will be the same for LBJ, MELO…

What would that lineup be like?
LBJ, Kobe, Melo, Randle, Pau…
scary…. that team can post and shoot the 3 ball… interchange with bench players, etc.

Billy Swan

Now that melo is off the market, can mgmt. please take it out of neutral and start putting together a squad. He was never going to leave NY to begin with and Le Bron isn’t going anywhere either. Hire Byron Scott as coach, waive Nash, re-sign Pau and Swaggy, get Nate Rob and Trev Ariza already.

Tosan

We need to offer the max deal to Eric Bledsoe. Suns won’t match after they signed Isaiah Thomas and will need to pay dragic next year. Bledsoe will be a key corner stone in building this team

KOBE FUCKING BEAN BRYANT DESERVED HIS CONTRACT… WE ARE ALL FANS OF KOBE NOT THE FUCKING LAKERS DONT LIE TO YOURSELVES PEOPLE WITHOUT KOBE LA HAS NO RINGS IN THE LAST 18 YEARS PEOPLE WAKE UP … DIRK IS NO KOBE DUNCAN IS NO KOBE THEY CAN TAKE AS LITTLE MONEY AS THEY WANT… KOBE SCORED 81 POINTS 62 POINTS IN 3 QUARTERS 50+ IN LIKE 5 GAMES MADE BYNUM AN ALLSTAR MADE PAU EVEN MORE DOMINANT PAU GASOL WOULD HAVE BEEN A BUM LIKE HE WAS IF HE DIDNT GO TO LA KOBE MADE WACK ASS PLAYERS GOOD… MICHELLE KUPFAG(MITCH KUPCHAK) IS A BITCH JIMMY “IDIOT” BUSS-FAG IS A DUMB ASS THEY HAD 22 MILLION TO BURN ON GOOD TALENT AND THEY BRING YOUNG HILL AND LIN IN TO LA … THEY CAN HAVE EASLY HAD THOMAS DENG EVEN PAU GASOL BACK FUCK CARMELO AND NOBODY NEEDS LEBRON HE SUCKS HE JUST GOES TO WHERE THERE IS TALENT HE CANT WIN ON HIS OWN LIKE KOBE

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With the Lakers off to a poor start, trade rumors have begun to swirl around Kobe Bryant, leading many to speculate if he'll leave for greener pastures. Kobe puts those rumors to rest in his interview with Yahoo Sports.

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With the Lakers off to a poor start, trade rumors have begun to swirl around Kobe Bryant, leading many to speculate if he'll leave for greener pastures. Kobe puts those rumors to rest in his interview with Yahoo Sports.